They are complemented by Neil Stuke as chief clerk Billy Lamb and Phil Davis as the rather menacing criminals’ defence lawyer of choice, Micky Joy.

This week’s episode had the lot.

Billy had to sort out prostate cancer; Micky was smashing glasses and piling on emotional pressure to get Martha to defend his murderous gangster and Clive was trying to separate his love and
working lives.

On top of that there were two cases involving relevant social issues — a young Muslim woman battling against her father and brother and a bid to save a man from execution because the UK is the last
court of appeal for Caribbean states which still have the death penalty.

But it works because of two things — top actors and first-class writing.